Case Study: University of St Andrews improves contextual admissions with CACI Acorn data

University of St Andrews uses CACI Acorn data to support 10,000+ students and widen access

The University of St Andrews, a top-ranked UK university, sought to widen access to its institution by identifying applicants from deprived areas across the UK. Their challenge was finding a consistent and comparable data source to replace the Scotland-specific metrics they had previously used. To solve this, they turned to vendor CACI Limited and its Acorn postcode classification data.

CACI's Acorn database provided a comprehensive and standardized dataset that was easily integrated into the university's admissions system. This solution allowed the admissions team to benchmark applicants against peers from similar socio-economic backgrounds, giving them vital context to identify potential beyond certified grades. As a result, the University of St Andrews gained a clearer picture of each candidate's ability and improved its contextual admissions policy.

University of St Andrews